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Excellence and Extension Programs

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Meridan State College is committed to inspiring excellence across the diverse and creative learners that are part of our P-12 learning community. Our Programs of Excellence focus particularly on targeted teaching for identified students and adds an explicit layer to the core approach to differentiation and extension of all students in regular community core classes and elective subjects.

Gifted and talented students benefit from enrichment and extension opportunities to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding. We also believe that by maintaining a strong engagement in students’ ​talented areas (eg. Dance, Music, Sport, Italian, Problem Solving…) through Junior Secondary, that students will maintain a higher level of overall engagement to their learning, develop deeper understanding and higher levels of cognition (making links in a constructivist sense) and build strong foundations for high level performance in Senior Secondary pathways and beyond.

Meridan SC has TWO (2) Programs of Excellence: Dance Immersion and Masterclass.

In addition to our Programs of Excellence we also offer Extension Programs in Year 7 and 8 to allow talented students to maintain a strong focus in gifted and interest areas through to subjects and Senior Secondary pathways.

Programs of Excellence - Dance Immersion and Masterclass

Masterclass and Dance Immersion classes consist of groups of students that have all met the selection criteria and are gifted in the targeted area. These classes cover the same curriculum program as other classes in their year level, but due to the capability of these students and mastery of core areas (eg. Literacy and Numeracy) they have the opportunity to explore curriculum concepts to a deeper extent and/or through a more specified contextual approach (eg. Dance). These programs also accommodate some extra projects and activities as they cover the core curriculum in less time. Masterclass and Dance Immersion classes run for Years 7, 8 and 9.

Each student enrolled in an Immersion class is expected to study one Extension Program (outlined below). Dance Immersion students will study Dance Extension but do not need to complete a seperate application for this.

Students can apply for Masterclass using the Application Form​. Applications are processed at the end of each semester to check eligibility and capacity, and if successful, students can move to this class at the start of the next Semester (subject to space availability).

Extension Programs - Dance, Music, Italian, STEM and Sport Academy

Extension Programs allow students to extend their knowledge and skills in a specific key learning area. Currently Meridan has four Extension Programs: Dance, Italian, Music, STEM and Sport. During years 7 and 8 all students study LOTE, HPE, The Arts and Technology. These subjects typically run as semester courses and students study two each semester. When participating in an Extension Program students have the opportunity to increase and maintain their focus in one of these areas for a full year program. This does require a reduced focus for one area in Year 7 and another area in Year 8.

Extension Programs run for Years 7 & 8 and then lead into Year 9 and Senior Secondary elective programs.

Students can only study ONE (1) Extension Program.

The application process and entry requirements for our Programs are outlined in the Extension Programs Application Form (coming soon).

Applications are processed at the end of each semester to check eligibility and capacity, and if successful, students can move to this class at the start of the next Semester (subject to space availability).